raccoon

[ ra-koon ]

noun

, plural rac·coons, (especially collectively) rac·coon.

1. a nocturnal omnivore, Procyon lotor, the largest member of the family Procyonidae, having a masklike black stripe across the eyes, a sharp snout, a bushy, ringed tail, and very dexterous front paws, native to North and Central America and introduced elsewhere for its valuable fur: more than 20 subspecies have been named.
2. the thick, brownish-gray fur of this animal, with gray, black-tipped guard hairs.
3. any of various related animals of the genus Procyon, of Central American islands, some now rare.

raccoon

/ rəˈkuːn /

noun

1. any omnivorous mammal of the genus Procyon , esp P. lotor ( North American raccoon ), inhabiting forests of North and Central America and the Caribbean: family Procyonidae , order Carnivora (carnivores). Raccoons have a pointed muzzle, long tail, and greyish-black fur with black bands around the tail and across the face
2. the fur of the North American raccoon

Word History and Origins

Origin of raccoon¹

An Americanism dating back to 1600–10; from Virginia Algonquian (English spelling) aroughcun, from arahkunem “he scratches with his hands”

Word History and Origins

Origin of raccoon¹

C17: from Algonquian ärähkun , from ärähkuněm he scratches with his hands

Example Sentences

For instance, between 1990 and 2011, some 67,058 raccoons were found with the raccoon variant.

From Science News For Students

Crossovers to other species by the raccoon variant “was unexpectedly high,” they reported.

From Science News For Students

Predators like foxes, raccoons, skunks, feral cats, hawks, and owls all feed on them.

From Outside Online

As an apex predator — one at the top of the “food chain” — it feeds on deer, raccoons, rabbits and rodents.

From Washington Post

Scientists have successfully used baited vaccines to manage rabies in foxes in Western Europe and raccoons in the United States.

From Quanta Magazine